We pick interesting products and trends for you!
Hatsune Miku is a big time singer in Japan, but she’s all virtual. Developed by Crypton Future Media as a singing synthesizer software, but now Hastsune Miku has become a huge pop culture phenom in Japan. Here’s a video going behind-the-scenes of Hastune Miku – The END project with the creators involved.
My nerdcore hip-hop tune for the week – MC Frontalot with “I’ll Form The Head” featuring Dr Awkward and ZeaLouS1. A cool tribute to the iconic ’80s Voltron Lions cartoon.
Adidas has been rocking a solid PR campaign with “Unite All Originals” line-up of kicks and apparel wear.
A couple of weeks back, Adidas sponsored a concert featuring rapper Snoop Dogg and Kpop power girl group 2NE1 who are known to rock Adidas Originals x Jeremy Scott sneakers and clothing.
A couple of members on our Retrenders team loves playing the ukulele all day all the time and especially our host Eddie for Ramen & a Half. I bet you he will DVR this new documentary showing on PBS about ukulele maestro Jake Shimabukuro. Filmmaker Tad Nakamura took 3 years filming Jake on his ukulele journey.
Here’s some cool EDM music by DJ/remixer Jack Conte and the video is cool too.
Check out his music and live events @ JackConte.com.
What happens when you put together a World Famous Cosplayer, a World Cosplay Summit Grand Champion, and Cosplayer/Singer/Voice Actress together? You get the – Super Dolls featuring Alodia, RiE, and Fujaara with their first single: “アジアの変身（Asia no henshin)” The album drops May 2013 in the Philippines and June 5th, 2013 in Japan.
Exclusive video from Funny or Die has actress Anna Kendrick joining super Kpop girl-group F(X). I have to admit it’s funny, especially when she’s playing Starcraft.
With the growing popularity of EDM (Electronic Dance Music) in recent years, everybody wants to be a DJ now – and even Paris Hilton (I won’t post any video links because it’s just tragic, but if you are curious, you can find the clips on YouTube.)! Now back to the subject at hand, Numark made a super popular beginning all-in-one DJ USB controller – the Mixtrack Pro in the past and it was a hot seller. The company just released it’s latest earlier this month with the Mixtrack Pro II. For me, I think this is a great starter set for anybody wanting to know more about DJing and having friends over a house party.
MSRP: $300.00USD
For more info, go to: Numark Mixtrack Pro II.
If you weren’t able to attend Kaskade’s appearance at the Ultra Music Festival (UMF) 2013 then the EDM DJ star uploaded his full DJ jam session on his YouTube channel. It’s pure stadium dance bliss.
When this book came across our desk, I jumped at the chance at reviewing this. Having grown up in the 1980′s, I lived through Bowie’s commercially successful Let’s Dance years but soon found out that there was much more to the singer than the very popular “Modern Love” and “China Girl” that were dominating radio stations and MTV at the time. What was at first just my curiosity into what he did in the decades before, blossomed into a lifelong infatuation with one of the best and most innovative musicians of all time. Since then, I’ve meticulously listened through past albums and singles; from the excellent glam rock classic The Man Who Sold The World, through his iconic Ziggy Stardust and Thin White Duke years, to the Berlin trilogy in the late 70′s.
Wow, I haven’t seen a good Music Video since the early 90s when MTV was actually playing music videos. Check out this stylish cinematic video from UK folk/soul singer Lianne La Havas with this soulful jazz infused song – Gone.
Live from our secret Chinatown location in San Francisco, where if you listen closely you may be able to hear our upstairs neighbors tuned into some Chinese television program… and not too far away, our rotary phone ringing off the hook. We never answer of course, because nine out of ten times it’s a telemarketer trying to sell us boxer briefs. So here we are, in our basement of entertainment as we produce our very first RetrendCast Episode talking about the latest 007 James Bond film, Skyfall.
Click here to listen to RetrendCast Episode 1 through the Retrenders Mixcloud page.
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Links to topics that were discussed on our show:
Skyfall Sam Mendes Adele Daniel Craig Sean Connery Roger Moore Aston Martin DB5 Javier Bardem Eve Moneypenny MI6 Macau
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Get your tickets now, because I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate El Día de los Muertos for November than to attend a Mexican Folkloric dance performance!
Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco is a well known Mexican dance company throughout the Bay Area and Retrenders was able to visit them several months ago to do a Spotlight on what was only beginning to take shape in their rehearsals… but what was rehearsed, is now refined for this weekend’s November 3rd performance.
Here is one of their many past performances
EDM star Deadmau5 collaborates with headphone maker Sol Republic. These funky fresh headphones were designed by artist Joshua Davis and the end result is the Deadmau5 Tracks HD On-Ear headphones.
MSRP: $149.99USD
For more info, go to: Sol Republic x Deadmau5.
Wanna hear some Deadmau5? Here’s a recent selection – “Professional Griefers” feat. Gerard Way:
This is how Crayola can sell more crayons. I have to say this is a very addicting and infectious dance rap tune. Kpop hip hop artist G-Dragon gets crazy with this music video:
Recently, as some may say, EDM (Electronic Dance Music) is exploding here in the States but it’s been years in the making at the clubs. If you have time, here’s a 90-minute British documentary on How Clubbing Changed the World:
Also of note, DJ/Producer Kaskade posted a full article on the rise of EDM on his Tumblr page: The EDM Story.
Check out the in-depth story on: Dancing Astronaut – EDM.
Check out this wicked MV by Kid Koala – 8-bit Blues:
Since this is Soundtype’s second post, why not write about two recent songs that just happen to have the same song title – and both are very,very catchy. First up is a band from London called Theme Park with their second single “Jamaica” which was released on August 20, 2012. The band consists of two brothers and two school friends and their indie-pop sound resembles another English group, Bombay Bicycle Club, which coincidentally, they’ve also toured with last year. The track has got that tropical, laid-back flavor and, with every listen, it just makes you want to fly to Mo Bay and get some rum. Here is “Jamaica” by Theme Park:
For today’s Viral Video Friday, I got two cool songs that I’m jamming to on my iPod.
This neat looking music video is by AlunaGeorge. “Your Drums, Your Love” is a sexy uptempo R&B style track.
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“For My Sins” by Jess Mills is a nice pop ballad for the ears.
Happy Friday!
With Kpop taking the world by storm, why not have a convention for all things Kpop. Just like any other geek-con, KCON 2012 USA will have celebrity panels, autograph sessions, workshops, and of course Korean food! And I forgot to mention the music, it’s a concert too!
First of all – the all-star lineup includes: 4Minute, VIXX, B.A.P., Exo-M, G.NA and Nu’est.
So last week we gave you a Mad Men version of the Rick Astley…dare I say “classic?” If that tickled your fancy and are always on the look out for different versions of that heart-swooning song, may I present an 8 bit version?
Don’t pretend you didn’t like it.
We’re starting a new weekly blog series here on Retrenders called Soundtype where I’ll cover emerging artists or indie music that have recently hit my playlist. New music is an obsession of mine – just listening to new tracks takes up most of my day - so it just made sense to write about and share with our audience which song or artist stood out that week.
Let’s start off the series with a remix from Tunogo, an LA based electronic music act helmed by Bass/EDM producer Jess Labb. She put together a nice dubstep/downtempo mix of After The Fall’s new single “Don’t Feel.” Here’s the track – After The Fall – Don’t Feel (Tunogo’s Benumb Remix):
If you like this, you can download the track for free (while it’s still available) or check out other tracks and EP’s by Tunogo on her Soundcloud page. Jess Labb is currently working on a follow up to the Intemperatus EP out on Sodio Recordings and you can find more info on Tunogo on their site – Tunogo.com
After The Fall (also hailing from Los Angeles) is releasing the “Don’t Feel” single later this month on September 25, and it includes this mix plus three others – here’s the teaser link for all the upcoming tracks.
Next week, I’ll highlight two recent remixes that just happen to share the same song title thus confusing me to no end as to which group sang what. See ya then!
Here’s a new web series – Fog City Nights Episode 1 on breakdance and the culture of b-boying in SF.
Retrenders Spotlight took in the eclectic rhythms and musical tapestry of L.A.-based, Ozomatli, during part of the City’s summertime Stern Grove Festival.
Thousands descended on the park’s natural amphitheater to take part in a musical journey that spanned the genres of salsa, dancehall, hip hop, cumbia, salsa and merengue. For over 15 years, Ozomatli has brought its socially-conscious verse and mission to venues throughout the world, all the while imparting its mantra onto the masses: it will take you around the world by taking you around L.A.
For the last 75 years, Stern Grove has played host to this summer gathering and presentation of the arts, completely free of charge…and completely fun-filled!
For more info, check out: Ozomatli and Stern Grove Festival
The French-Chilean musician, Ana Tijoux has been one of the most prominent independent MC hip-hop artists and has recently seen her popularity rise. She built her reputation from the ground up in the independent music scene with her group Makiza, in Chile, in the 1990s. Then in 2001, through some unforeseen moments in life, she decided to break apart from the band and the music scene all together, and went back to France.
It wasn’t until 2004 that she returned to Chile and connected with funk Chilean band Aluzinati, where she then became a featured artist in Control Machete’s album, Uno Dos Bandera, and worked on a soundtrack with Julieta Venegas. She even reunited with Makiza for a short time, but realized she really wanted to pursue a solo career.
In 2007, she released her solo album, Kaos, and she was nominated in Latin America’s version of the MTV Video Music Awards as Best New Artist.
In 2009, she released her 2nd solo album titled, 1977, which was a return to her rap roots and a homage to hip hop. The album was autobiographical and dealt with the complications she endured in life.
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Johnny Moreno
M. Do
gmixalot
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GuestContributor
Jess Labb
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FrankC
Al Woo
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